Thursday, February 16, 2017

A Mystery/Thriller Week Visit with Alice Loweecey

Kathy: Setting plays such an important role, especially in mysteries. Why choose an area near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for your Giulia Driscoll Mystery series?

AL: So I wouldn’t totally screw up? No, seriously! I wanted to set the series outside of NYS, just because. But I also wanted to work with similar weather patterns. Google Earth to the rescue! It showed me a large section of farmland just west of Pittsburgh, PA and Cottonwood, PA was born. This way Giulia gets to visit Pittsburgh, but I have the freedom to create anything I want in Cottonwood. (Who said “God complex?” I heard that!)

Kathy: NUN BUT THE BRAVE is the most recent Giulia Driscoll Mystery. Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

AL: There were two. I love post-apocalyptic fiction and thus came across the Doomsday Preppers who live in readiness for whatever will cause the fall of civilization. Prepper research is a gift poured into the lap of a writer—they practically write themselves. While outlining the book, a good friend posted herself in her spectacular handmade Halloween costume, a Horned God, and the centerpiece of my Prepper cult was born.

Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?

AL: I am probably one of the most anal plotters in the business. My outlines run upwards of 5000 words. The writer can’t forget where she planted her clues. Deadlines must be met.

Kathy: In addition to your mystery series, you also write horror under the name Kate Morgan. Do you approach writing these genres differently? Does one come more easily than the other?

AL: I outline everything. I started out as a pantser and it wasn’t fun. My outlines are fluid—when the characters decide to change something, I revise the outline to suit. Structure works well with my writing style: it gives me the freedom to be more creative. Sort of like I write better when I don’t have to worry about the electric being paid.

Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?

AL: I love connecting with fans. Many years back, I worked in direct marketing, so having to participate in marketing my books wasn’t a complete shock to the system. The one element I dislike is the time it takes from writing. But I’m always ready to make new fans.

Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

AL: Giulia’s next book, THE CLOCK STRIKES NUN, comes out May 30. This is her sink or swim ghost hunting case. She encounters backstabbing co-workers, sees how the super-rich live, and gets a crash course in Tarot reading and exorcism. All the while bemoaning the two-cup-per-day limit on coffee now that she’s pregnant. The things we do for our kids.

2 comments:

I love to hear other writers mention how their characters have a life of their own and often change your best laid plans. When I first started writing I thought something was wrong with me when I couldn't get my characters to cooperate. I'm more of a pantser, probably because my characters are so darn unruly!